Help Me Overcome My Unbelief (Imperfect Faith)

Jesus authoritatively responds to the father, “If You Can!” What do you mean, if I can? Don’t you know that all things are possible if you only believe? And today, Christ is saying the same thing to us, what do you mean, “if I can!” In so doing, we are questioning Christ’s authenticity and questioning His authority. All we need to do is – simply believe that all things are possible if you, I, us, them, they, we only believe. Look at yourself and say with me, “Lord, Help Me Overcome My Unbelief, my Imperfect Faith.” See your unbelief is not my unbelief. It’s a personal faith walk. For what I may believe in, you may not.

Saints, I’ve learned in my Christian walk that faith in Christ comes in levels as our relationship mature in Christ. So for a few minutes, let’s take a look at these levels of faith. One Sunday morning, I was watching Dr. Charles Stanley television program, “In Touch.” Well, Dr. Stanley was speaking on levels of faith. So what I share with you this morning is an excerpt of Dr. Stanley’s teaching that is scripturally supported.

There are three Levels of Faith: (Little faith, Great faith, and Perfect/Real Faith)

• Little Faith (restless, struggling, wavering) – Doubts ask, “Can God?” Faith says, “God can.” Doubt sees the obstacles but faith sees the way.

 Matthew 6:30 “But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more do so for you, O men of little faith?” Often it seems that we trust God for the wants of our lives but we fail to eradicate, stamp out our doubt and trust Him for the needs of our lives even though He has already promised to provide our every need.

• Great Faith (reaching, maturing faith) - If we feed our faith, our doubts will starve to death. When we don’t exercise our muscles weakens, deteriorate. Faith is like a muscle and prayer is the exercise that helps it grow.

 Isaiah 41:10, “So do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Great faith focus on God, not circumstances; great faith brings trust that conquers fears and help you and me to overcome unbelief.

 Isaiah 40:31, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” An individual with great faith can sit by patiently and wait on the Lord to work the situation out. They will not move ahead of God. This doesn’t mean that they will do nothing afterall the scripture says, “faith without works is dead.” But what it does mean is when we’ve done our part, all we need to do is to watch God work the situation out.

 Matthew 8:5-10 “And when He had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, entreating Him, and saying, ‘Lord, my servant is paralyzed at home, suffering great pain.’ And He said to him, ‘I will come and heal him.’ But the centurion answered and said, ‘Lord I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed….(Verse 10) ‘Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled, and said to those who were following, Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.” (Centurion solider possessed great faith because he believed that Jesus didn’t have to be present in order to heal his servant).